Boat Builder - Personal requirements
Kaihanga Waka
Skills & knowledge
Boat builders need to have:
- knowledge of different boat building methods
- knowledge of different types of boat building materials, such as resin, fibreglass, steel and timber, their properties and how they are used
- the ability to interpret diagrams, rough sketches and computer-aided design (CAD) drawings
- carpentry and engineering skills
- technical skills such as the ability to install machinery and other equipment on board a boat
- practical skills such as electrical wiring, plumbing and painting
- mathematical ability
- read/write ability
- an awareness of safe working practises
- knowledge of trends in boat design.
Sam Christiansen working on a timber boat
The internal framing of an aluminium boat
Personal Qualities
Boat builders need to be:
- interested in boats and boating
- accurate and reliable
- able to get on with people and work as part of a team
- artistic and creative
- able to perform several tasks at once.
Physical Requirements
Boat builders need to have good hand-eye co-ordination and should be reasonably fit and healthy. It is important that boat builders are comfortable with heights and working in confined spaces.
